Discounts for poorest Goodwill shoppers? "You're fired. We'll press felony charges."

[Teche]

I recently saw an exposé on agencies such as this one where breakdown of funds and it was appalling as to how the funds were dispersed. I now give my donations to an agency for the blind where volunteers staff the store.

 

[Ausgirl]

From the link above - "When his compassion got the better of his judgments, he would simply cut prices in half, then watch the delight on the faces of underprivileged people and families"....

Since I'm a skeptic by nature - maybe he was enjoying the power it gave him, power that he had no authority to use.

Sorry, but in my mind this played out as:

Poor Person: Excuse me, but how much are these trousers?

Employee: Ten dollars. But for you - FIVE. FIVE DOLLARS! Take that, homeless one! Now... *swirls black cape* I must away, to distribute discounted food to the hungry! *evil cackle* That'll learn 'em!

 

[21merc7]

This is wiki and we all know anyone can change or never touch the site, but this is about Goodwill only:

Goodwill Industries - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sonya is right, the guy can start his own free place, and usually if things are allowed for free friends and family that do not need it, take advantage.

An oddball answer is something I saw some videos accidentally on in Canada. There is a building, not sure if it is a shed or what, if it has water, heat, etc... this was all seen watching videos of soap making, lol.

Anyhow, it was full of the used items you would give to Goodwill, but it was free. Clothes, decorations, cooking appliances (crock pots, etc...), utensils, just the stuff you no longer needed. You just walk in and get it. I do not know if you had to drop off your own goods first in exchange, or if it was just a building standing there, but it seemed a good start on free stuff for those in need.

BTW, the local Red Cross here no longer gives out free clothes or coats to the poor or homeless in the winter. Found that out around 2 years ago.

If you can find a non-profit, non-charging donation spot, it is very helpful if in an area with a great deal of poor or homeless.

Our local Goodwill stores charge more than the very poor and homeless could afford. $25 and up for a coat is too much for them. Some of the other necessities are cheap, but clothes are not.

 

[zippitydoda]

Such a poor, simply joy to watch the happiness of those who have nothing. God knows, that small happiness should be taken away or taxed at least.

I can respect that some people will look this situation differently - because to some, there are different laws or rules for different people.

 

[SweetT]

When I donate items I certainly do not expect someone to have to pay for them, if they are in need they should receive the items I donated for free. That's how I intended when I donate things.
For some of you saying you would use Salvation Army, my cousin volunteered for them a few yrs back during the Christmas season, he will no longer donate to them as the volunteers etc were taking items for themselves and their kids.

 

[21merc7]

Some suggestions to donate too:

Local homeless shelter, the YMCA/YWCA coat drive probably starting soon, local churches that donate to the poor (that takes some asking, and a few may take advantage, but not as many that really need). Local women's or men's shelters, some VA funded nursing homes, but you must call them to ask first in case of Federal guidelines. If you know of any organization that is local and you do not mind dropping off the things yourself, call and ask, or stop by with the items in the car waiting until you do find a place. Just start thinking of all the places that are local to you, and ask.

There are also local food banks, churches that feed others, and shelters that can take your extras dry and canned goods if you shift them out every few months.

Salvation Army and Goodwill are for people like me that need the discount price on used goods, as I can't always pay full price, they really are not for those that do not have an income at all.

P.S. Thanksgiving is coming up. If you live in a larger area there is some place that feeds the homeless and poor for that day, and usually they provide shelter on too hot or too cold days throughout the year. You can volunteer time to cook and serve on Thanksgiving Day if no family is around, or drop off some food and warm clothing and blankets.

 

[animlzrule]

When I donate items I certainly do not expect someone to have to pay for them, if they are in need they should receive the items I donated for free. That's how I intended when I donate things.
For some of you saying you would use Salvation Army, my cousin volunteered for them a few yrs back during the Christmas season, he will no longer donate to them as the volunteers etc were taking items for themselves and their kids.

Salvation Army also openly practices discrimination and despite calling itself a "Christian" organization or charity, it has some pretty un-Christian like doctrine. Sorry, little red bucket bell ringers, my charitable contributions go elsewhere.

 

[Sonya610]

my charitable contributions go elsewhere.

I choose to give to animal (non-human animal) related charities.

Last time I checked there ain't many starving humans in this country, starving as in skin and bone....children with bloated bellies ....humans found dead due to starvation because society did not provide the resources for food.

Also last time I checked there were no government run euthanasia facilities in virtually every county in the United States where homeless humans were caught and had a few days to be claimed else they would be killed. Last time I checked there weren't several million humans being "euthanized" every year in this country because they had no home and no resources.

I give to animal charities. The truly needy in our society.

 

[STEADFAST]

I recently saw an exposé on agencies such as this one where breakdown of funds and it was appalling as to how the funds were dispersed. I now give my donations to an agency for the blind where volunteers staff the store.

You can look up charities' financials at "The Charity Navigator." http://www.charitynavigator.org/

The Goodwill organization of south Florida is actually very good about keeping their administrative costs way down compared to their revenue -- it gets the highest rating of 4 stars.

However, first of all, the employee was possibly mentally challenged, if you believe their mission statement:

Goodwill Industries of South Florida is dedicated to providing rehabilitation, on-the-job training, work experience, and placement services to help people with disabilities and special needs overcome barriers to employment and become employed in the community. Our vision is to be the leader in providing services to those with disabilities who want to work, but face barriers to employment, and to train and place them in jobs they can perform successfully and retain. Goodwill Industries of South Florida is a lot more than just a place to donate used household goods and clothing. It is a place where people with disabilities are rehabilitated and trained to be productive members of society.

Also, the $4000 that the employee supposedly lost for them was an incredibly insignificant amount. Their total revenues were $104,802,776.00 last year, of which they put $96,299,526.00 into their services. (That is just south Florida's Goodwill, not all national ones combined!) http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12363#.Ukb9vz-mWSo

 

[meanmaryjean]

The people employed at Goodwill are in job training programs. So, imagine this guy getting then placed into a job at Target/ Walmart/ name a store and 'discounting' for people based on how they looked to him!

This employee knew the rules and chose to break them. So what that it was Goodwill?

 

[al66pine]

Italicized quotes below are from OP link.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/soci...st-andrew-anderson-19-giving-discounts-stores#

"When an employee at Goodwill’s store in Naples, Fla., started handing out freelance discounts to the shops poorest customers..." BBM

Did the reporter verify that this employee gave discounts to the only poorest employees? How? Did reporter rely on the employee's statement?
And how did employee determine 'poorest?'

For the 'poorest people', did employee ask his mgr. about giving discounts? Did mgr say no? Or did manager say yes, one time for one sale, and from that, the employee decided to give discounts as he saw fit?

Based on the article, employee gave discounts selectively based on his own criteria.

"Anderson worked behind the counter at the Naples Goodwill outlet. He would often see the community’s poorest people come into the store, looking to buy clothes but with only a few bucks to their name." BBM

Did customers show the employee their bank statements? Pay stubs?
(Sarcasm here. I know the poorest customers do not or may not have bank a/cs or jobs.)

An aside: A few months ago, at Salvation Army I saw a local shop owner at S/A counter asking for a discount on her purchases. A week later, while browsing in her high-end shop, I saw a few of the items she had purchased. Would Anderson have discounted her purchases, based on faded, threadbare clothing she was wearing that day?

Did employee receive something from these 'poorest customers' other than to "watch the delight on the faces"?

As others here noted, did he discount for his family and friends?

Regardless of who received the discounts, discount policy was not his to make and various discounts were not his to give.

Did he do this one or two times? If so, I doubt we would be reading about this.

--------------------------------------------------------------
One Sided Reporting?
"While Goodwill on its own website pledges, 'We treat all people with dignity and respect,' the company had little respect for Anderson."

Like other employment-termination-criminal charges news, it seems we are only reading info from one side.
Perhaps Goodwill did "respect" the employee, perhaps had counseled him numerous times about the store discount policy, perhaps had had other issues (tardiness, unexcused absences, refusal to follow other policies).

The employee had little respect for his employer, IMO.

Typically the employer does not comment, and typically it is policy not to comment about pending criminal charges.

The employer provided enough info for felony theft charges, per article. That says a lot.


JM:twocents: and as always, I may be wrong.

 

[SwampMama]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/21/goodwill-workers-disabilities-low-wage_n_3478013.html

I found this appalling!

"Goodwill is paying some of its disabled workers just 22 cents an hour, while the charity’s executives make six figure salaries. A labor law loophole enables the practice".

Some Pennsylvania Goodwill workers who are disabled made as little as .22, .38 and .41 cents per hour in 2011, according to Labor Department documents reviewed by NBC News. That’s because a 1938 law........ that permits them to pay disabled workers based on their abilities, with no minimum.

 

[al66pine]

I think perhaps this young man was too soft hearted to be working for Goodwill.
While what he did was wrong, he tried to show compassion
for the poorest people who came to the store. I really think letting him go

from the job was punishment enough. wwjd?

BBM
What would He do? Respectfully, render unto Caesar?*
Submit to secular authority, while still showing compassion:
Perhaps
1. Ask manager to authorize a discount on a sale, as the issue arose?

2. If mgr did not authorize a discount, use money from his own pocket to buy items for the poorest customers?

3. Follow employer's policies, continue working there, be promoted to mgr level, where he would be authorized to give discounts within certain paramenters?

4. Collect items (away from the store) on his own, then give away to the poorest?

5. Start a store on his own and give discounts as he saw fit? Or give away merchandise for free?

Just several alternatives to defying secular authority (which by Anderson's actions were apparently criminal), which would show compassion to poorest customers.

Thanks to posters upthread for providing many of these ideas.

JM :twocents: and as always, I may be wrong.

*"Render unto Caesar" is the beginning of a phrase attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels, which reads in full, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" (.[Matthew 22:21]

This phrase has become a widely quoted summary of the relationship between Christianity and secular authority. The original message, coming in response to a question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar gives rise to multiple possible interpretations about the circumstances under which it is desirable for the Christian to submit to earthly authority.
Render unto Caesar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
​

ETA:
Per wiki, "You shall not steal is one of the Ten Commandments." BBM

 

[al66pine]

Goodwill dropping grant theft criminal charges, ok, maybe, imo.
Who says employee should get job back???

We're getting only limited info from Goodwill's side.
Perhaps Goodwill had counseled him numerous times about the store discount policy. Maybe he still failed to comply.

Perhaps there were other employee problems, such as tardiness, unexcused absences, insubordination, sexual harrassment, drinking, drugs, violence on the job, falsifying time sheets, who knows what. IDK, not saying there were.

Does anyone supporting his return to Goodwill know w. certainty there were no other employee problems? Just saying Goodwill may have other reasons not to rehire him, in addition to his stealing from Goodwill.

Per http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlin...ges-against-teen-who-gave-customer-discounts/
"Officer Chris Marotta of Collier County police said. '... He admitted to the above actions and wishes to repay the store.'” BBM (BTW, has he repaid dollar number one to the store?)

Give him the job back?
Imo, enough that Goodwill decided to drop criminal charges.

JM:twocents: and as always, I may be wrong.

I'm glad that this 19 y/o was holding a job (presumably not in a gang or stealing old ladies purses).

 

[Karmady]

BBM
What would He do? Respectfully, render unto Caesar?*
Submit to secular authority, while still showing compassion:
Perhaps
1. Ask manager to authorize a discount on a sale, as the issue arose?

2. If mgr did not authorize a discount, use money from his own pocket to buy items for the poorest customers?

3. Follow employer's policies, continue working there, be promoted to mgr level, where he would be authorized to give discounts within certain paramenters?

4. Collect items (away from the store) on his own, then give away to the poorest?

5. Start a store on his own and give discounts as he saw fit? Or give away merchandise for free?

Just several alternatives to defying secular authority (which by Anderson's actions were apparent criminal), which would show compassion to poorest customers.

Thanks to posters upthread for providing many of these ideas.

JM :twocents: and as always, I may be wrong.

*"Render unto Caesar" is the beginning of a phrase attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels, which reads in full, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" (.[Matthew 22:21]

This phrase has become a widely quoted summary of the relationship between Christianity and secular authority. The original message, coming in response to a question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar gives rise to multiple possible interpretations about the circumstances under which it is desirable for the Christian to submit to earthly authority.
Render unto Caesar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
​

​

​

​

Apparently the kid did ultimately understand that what he did was misguided. The part that got me was that it didn't even occur to him (apparently) that he was using someone else's property to accomplish his own intentions and thought that was laudable. I agree that his intentions may have been, but his method definitely was not. I hope that is a function of his youth, but I fear that it's a statement about pervasive entitlement mentality. Likely, it's both, imo. I asked my teenaged daughter what she thought of the situation and she didn't see anything wrong with what he did, either. Didn't even occur to her that she couldn't just give away that which did not belong to her in that situation.

On the other hand, she wouldn't just take $5 out of my wallet to give to a homeless person without asking me. I know because she's asked me before when she wanted to feed a homeless person and his dog outside a fast food place. So it may be the anonymity of the business "donor" and/or the idea that the business has so much that it should not think twice about giving it away that sets it apart in her youthful mind - and his.

all jmo

 

[tiredblondy]

The prices at Goodwill in my area have tripled. It truly upsets me. I can go to Wal mart or Peebles or Target and buy something new for the price they have listed. They have built grand new buildings in all the small towns around.

I have never visited the Salvation Army thrift store because I knew someone who worked for them.

I give to my church who has a thrift store that's open once a week. Clothes for a dollar etc but gives a tremendous amount away free, food, clothes, blankets, sheets, dishes etc. If a house burns down or someone's lost their job we are there for them. That's where some of my stuff goes.

I also give a lot and help out at the women's abused shelter's thrift store. The prices there are what you would expect to find at a thrift store and I know where that money goes. They support safe houses and shelters and help these women and children get back on their feet while tutoring them( volunteers from the community, no pay just from their heart) and teaching them technology. ( how to use a computer) I have been so impressed.

If I go in to that thrift store with a bedspread, quilt or clothes and I ask them to give it ( not sell it ) to someone who needs it I know it will be done as I ask. I have been so impressed with this group and it's just a small local charity.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is somewhere in your community there are good/excellent groups and sometimes you just have to search them out.

 

[LadyL]

$4000?!!!

holy cow - that's a lot of discounts

and for those who think he was right, consider how any other kind of theft (and this was theft) impacts the prices of merchandise, consider how theft impacts the viability of a business, and consider how theft bites into the economy - all at the expense of other shoppers (and employees)

any business will terminate and file criminal charges if a breach of policy warrants it and $4000 worth definitely warrants it IMO

otherwise it'll just be a free-for-all for every dishonest employee and their friends/family

 

[al66pine]

The prices at Goodwill in my area have tripled. It truly upsets me. I can go to Wal mart or Peebles or Target and buy something new for the price they have listed. They have built grand new buildings in all the small towns around.
I have never visited the Salvation Army thrift store because I knew someone who worked for them.
I give to my church who has a thrift store that's open once a week.
...
I also give a lot and help out at the women's abused shelter's thrift store. ...while tutoring them( volunteers from the community, no pay just from their heart) and teaching them technology. ( how to use a computer) I have been so impressed.
...
I have been so impressed with this group and it's just a small local charity. ....

BBM S...BM


Hey, tired,
Good to know ppl take the effort to locate special places to donate gently used items and to tutor, as you described.

Curious about the S/A experience your friend/acquaintance told you about,
if you can share while maintaining confidentiality re the specific S/A site.

Thx in adv.:seeya:

 

[CarolinaMoon]

I'm a fan of Goodwill. I just checked my Regional Goodwill and was impressed with the services they offer to all sorts of people who need assistance in becoming employable. They even offer micro-loans from $500 to $50,000 to help people start their own businesses.

I do donate items to other organizations whenever possible. However, for general clean-out, I go to Goodwill.

As for discounts, the local region gives donors a 20% discount coupon. I save mine for when my really poor sister comes to visit. She shops all the local Goodwill stores and can afford what she needs and provide gifts for her children and grandchildren at Christmas.

I wonder if the store where the young man works gives out coupons. Even the poorest of the poor can bring in an item they no longer need to donate and then shop at a discount.

 

[doubt]

hate to break it to you guys, but goodwill is a complete scam. they aren't cheap, for one, and they also exploit the mentally disabled by paying them next to nothing while the ceo is one of the wealthiest around.

i would absolutely never donate to this ''organization'' and i donate A LOT. i also run a christmas gift drive for the poor which, to large degree, started bc i got so fed up with the greed that continues to grow and grow by these thrift stores. it's disgusting. perhaps you only notice when you're in them 3 or 4 times a week.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/07/30/does-goodwill-industries-exploit-disabled-workers/